Music-leaf turner.



PATENTBD AUG. 29. 1905.

M. I. MARTIN.

V MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29,1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

l'atented Aug. 29, 19b5.

Application filed October 29, 1903. Serial No. 179,064.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARCUS J. MARTIN. a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Music-Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for turning music-leaves, and while it may be combined with a music-rack of any kind is especially adapted for combination with a piano or organ and may form a part of the music-rack of such instrument, being manufactured as a part of the instrument.

My invention consists of the novel features of construction and combination-of parts hereinafter described, particularly pointed out in the claim, and shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, parts being shown in side elevation. Fig. 4c is a section on the line 4 4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the turning-rods.

In constructing my device I employ a suitable base A, having an upwardly-extending front plate A. Arranged on the base and on the lower front portion of the plate A is a key-box B, and on the rear side of the plate A is arranged a vertical casing B, the lower portion of which is in communication with the key-box B. The front plate is, as will be understood, cut out at its lower portion between the box B and easing B. Brackets C are arranged between the casing and box, and in these brackets are pivotally secured the key-levers C. The top of the key-box is perforated, and at their forward ends the keylevers carry keys G which project upward through these perforations and are normally held in this projected position by leaf-springs which are arranged in the casing and adapted to bear on the rear ends of the keylevers. In the drawings I have shown the casing B as open at the rear, and it will be understood that when arranged in position on a piano or vorgan casing the casing of the piano or organ would form the rear wall of the casing B.

Arranged in the casing B are a plurality of rotatable rods D equal in number to the keylevers, and adjacent its lower end each rod is formed with a spirally-cut collar D, having a shoulder D On its under side to the rear of the brackets 0 each lever is cut out or notched,

forming a shoulder C", which is adapted when the lever is in its normal position to engage the shoulder D and prevent rotation of the rod. A coiled spring Eencircles each rod and is secured at one end to the top of the casing and at its lower and opposite end to the rod. The tendency of this spring is to rotate the rod, so as to throw the shoulder D on the side opposite the lever, and consequently out of engagement with the shoulder C". To the upper ends of these rods are secured the leaf-turners F. These turners each consist of a wire rod extending vertically above the plate and bent at a right angle. These wires are arranged parallel to each other and their angled portions are arranged in an ascending series, so that they will lie in substantially the same vertical plane. Adjacent their ends each wire-turner carries a snap or clasp similar to the clasps used on suspenders, but each clasp being of a different length, so that they will all grip the upper edge of a leaf in the same horizontal plane. These clasps are shown in Fig. 1 at F.

A vertically-movable rack G is arranged on the plate A, and any desired means may be employed for holding the rack in its adjusted position. I have shown the plate A as being vertically slotted and a set-screw H passing through the slot and being adapted to clamp the rack in position.

In the drawings I have illustrated a device of this kind with seven keys and adapted for use with music having up to sixteen pages;

but any number of keys may be used.

The operation of the device is as follows: The rack G is adjusted vertically to bring the upper edge of the 1nusie-leaves in position to be grasped by the clasps. One clasp is then secured to each of the leaves to be turned, the longest clasp to be secured to the first leaf. I/V-hen the leaf-turners F are thrown in this position, as shown at the upper portion of Fig. 1, the rods D are rotated, so as to'wind the springs and bring the shoulders D into engagement with the shoulders C of the keylevers, which prevents the spring rotating the rod and throwing the leaf-turners to the left. When the first leaf is to be turned, the key C, operating the proper rod, is depressed, raising the rear end of the lever and bringing the shoulder C out of engagement with the shoulder D of the rod having the leaf-turner with the longest clasp F, and the spring at once rotates the rod and with it the leaf-turner, turning the leaf. This operation is repeated with wardlyon the rear end portions of the said levers, a plurality of leaf-turning rods arranged in the casing, springs adapted to rotate the said rods from right to left, a collar formed on each of said rods, and a shoulder on said collar adapted to be engaged by the shoulder on the key-lever whereby the rod is locked against rotation.

MARCUS J. MARTIN.

l/Vitnesses:

A. J. WALSH, JOHN MOMENAMY. 

